video blog

The project is fully documented through a video log that will register the thoughts and findings of the partners, as well as case-studies and other material that was collected.

NOVEMBER 2012 | ABOUT THE PROJECT

The first project meeting took place in November, in Lisbon. Each partner introduced herself and talked about their institutional background, work experience and expectations for the project.

Carla Padró | University of Barcelona, Spain

Eva-Kaia Vabamäe | Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Estonia

Cristina da Milano | ECCOM, Italy

Inês Bettencourt da Câmara | Mapa das Ideias, Portugal

MAY 2013 | DISCUSSION OF THE RESEARCH RESULTS

The second project meeting took place in May 2013, in Lisbon. This time, the team was bigger, involving Roberta Agnesi from ECCOM, Italy and other members from Mapa das Ideias. Indrek Merimaa joined the group, replacing Eva-Kaia Vabamäe that undertook another professional endeavour.

In this meeting, each partner presented the research results concerning Museum Mediation in their countries. Carla and Indrek showcased the good practices video material resulting in a very interesting discussion about the criteria and methodology, but also the richness in museum experiences. The quantitative and qualitative data were also analysed.

The course structure, the participants’ selection criteria and the lecturers’ team was discussed and at the end of the meeting, everybody was very pleased with the 3 day meeting results (and with the weather, the food and the wonderful company!).

Roberta Agnese | ECCOM, Italy

Roberta gives a wider vision of the state of the art in Museum Mediation, by comparing the professionals’ situation in the United Kingdom, France and, of course, Italy.

Indrek Merimaa | National Estonian Museum, Estonia

Indrek talks about his role in the project and the Museum Mediators research findings in Estonia.

Carla Padró | University of Barcelona, Spain

Carla Padró discusses the Spanish results and the different case-studies, giving a in-depth and more reflexive approach to the museum mediation processes, as well as issues such as power and gender.

The Museum Mediators team was invited to participate in the Final Conference of the Learning Museum Project, in Bologna, 19-20 September. It was a very interesting opportunity to learn more about the professional realities in Museum Education and Learning, as well as project management.

For this event, we prepared a short video about the project.

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2013 | FIRST MUSEUM MEDIATORS COURSE, IN LISBON

The first course started in the end of September in Lisbon, with the support of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia.

After receiving more than 50 applications, 22 museum professionals were selected and the course started with Cristina Da Milano and Elisabetta Falchetti.

Between course sessions and a lot of intense discussion, some of the lecturers managed to share with us their vision and ideas about Museum Mediation.

Cristina Da Milano

Elisabetta Falchetti

Ida Brændholt Lundgaard

Carla Padró

Simona Bodo

Maria Vlachou

Irene Amengual

We also challenged some of the participants to share their opinions regarding the course. These testimonials will be shared as soon as possible!

Meanwhile in Spain…

NOVEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014 | THE BARCELONA COURSE

FOTOMATÓN

And, just as the Portuguese participants… the Spanish participants felt that the course arose more questions than answers.

Sofia de Juan Sanchéz talks about important questions

Mar Roig Sarrió underlines the importance of the participants’ voice

Alexandra Gonçalves and Sofia de Juan Sanchéz discuss what is a visitor and who should make the effort: Museum or Community?

Sofia de Juan Sanchéz: Is there a third space?

Sara Torres: Where is the Museum Mediator? Inside the Museum? Outside? In the basement?

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 | THE ROME COURSE

The third course took place at the Mercati di Traiano – Museo dei Fori Imperiali, in a nice room with a view over the city.

More than twenty participants from all over Italy participated, valuing the opportunity to network and to learn more about other experiences.

MARCH-APRIL 2014 | THE COPENHAGEN COURSE

A smaller group and a more intimate experience were the main features of the Copenhagen Museum Mediators course. A peer-learning dynamics was quickly established, between the lectures, the dialogue and the activities.

APRIL-MAY 2014 | THE ESTONIAN COURSE

Last but not least, the Estonian course was held in the main locations – Tartu and Tallin – organized by the National Museum of Estonia.

It involved an average of 25 participants from different museum settings. Again, the opportunity to network and to be with colleagues was highly valued.

JULY 2014 | PROJECT MEETING IN ROME

The last project meeting was held in Rome at ECCOM headquarters. The project partners discussed the courses’ evaluation results and the future.

The conference was also a big part of the meeting, as well as the Museum Mediators European Network and Thinktank.

What is Museum Mediation? See our videos

Highlight

«Museums have the responsibility to deconstruct their historically situated assumptions, missions, metaphors, conventions and practices [...] however museums are still caught into different dichotomised narratives that are presented as objective “truths”. To name a few, I am referring to the tyranny of chronology (Pollock, 2002), the romantic discourse of the artists as a genius, the current thematic approach in exhibition design or the notion of heritage as a commodity. I am also referring to the culture wars between directors, curators, educators, administrators, evaluators and visitors. And here is when we could ask:

Why can’t museums include multiple perspectives in their research processes, exhibition or educational policies and practices? Why can’t they treat visitors as equal voices?»